Dedicated volunteers partake in underwater cleanup efforts to safeguard the country's largest marine sanctuary located in Greece.
In the vibrant turquoise waters surrounding the attractive tourist destination of Alonissos in Greece, volunteers are meticulously cleaning the seabed, removing a variety of debris including plastic bottles, discarded tires, and rusted anchor chains. This endeavor forms part of an international initiative to preserve Europe's largest marine park, the Alonissos and Northern Sporades National Marine Park.
Funded by the European Union, the clean-up aims to protect the park's delicate ecosystem, which thrives in its lush green and blue waters, and offers stunning visual alpine landscapes. The island draws thousands of tourists annually, but its popularity has resulted in escalating pressure on the marine environment, increasingly affected by pollution.
The marine park boasts a wealth of biodiversity, home to more than 300 fish species, dolphins, sea turtles, and one of the world's last surviving colonies of monk seals, an endangered species. With tens of thousands of tonnes of waste entering the waters each year, the region's environmental health remains under serious threat of pollution.
The two-day clean-up, coordinated by the Greek environmental group Aegean Rebreath, engaged volunteers to inspect four primary underwater zones. Notably, the waters nearest to Votsi port, a bustling tourist and fishing hub, exhibited the most trash.
Community awareness is high in Alonissos, according to Theodora Francis, a 31-year-old volunteer diver who participated in the initiative. She emphasized that local and visitor support is crucial in maintaining the marine environment clean and thriving. For Francis, Alonissos can serve as a blueprint for marine conservation across the region.
The seabed cleaning campaign in Alonissos aligns with a broader environmental strategy in Greece. Plans for two additional marine parks are underway in the Aegean and Ionian Seas as part of a €780 million initiative, which focuses on revitalizing marine habitats and protecting their flora and fauna. Furthermore, Greece has pledged to increase the proportion of its territorial waters designated as marine protected areas to 30% by 2030.
George Sarelakos, 46, president of Aegean Rebreath, expressed optimism, stating that people worldwide should recognize humanity's ability to bring about change. He emphasized the importance of individual responsibility and personal investment in this transformation. Alonissos demonstrates how a unified community's efforts, supported by governmental action, can breathe new life into Europe's vulnerable marine ecosystems.
[Editor's Note: Greece ratified the International High Seas Treaty in May 2025, committing to global ocean protection efforts. The treaty seeks to establish a framework for conserving and sustainably using marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Furthermore, Greece is planning to establish two new marine parks in the Ionian Sea and the southern Aegean Sea, as part of its broader initiatives to safeguard biodiversity and combat pollution in coastal waters. These initiatives are expected to further reinforce Greece's focus on marine conservation, environmental protection, and sustainable development.]
- Volunteers, like Theodora Francis, are actively working to remove debris from the sea bed around the tourist destination of Alonissos, an effort aimed at preserving Europe's largest marine park.
- The Alonissos and Northern Sporades National Marine Park, home to a diverse array of marine life, is under threat from pollution caused by waste entering the waters each year.
- In addition to the Alonissos clean-up, Greece is planning to establish two new marine parks in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, focusing on revitalizing marine habitats and protecting flora and fauna.
- George Sarelakos, president of Aegean Rebreath, encourages individuals worldwide to embrace their ability to effect change, emphasizing personal responsibility in this transformation.
- For personal growth, education, and self-development, one can learn from the example set by Alonissos, where a unified community's efforts have contributed to the protection and revitalization of Europe's marine ecosystems.
- The marine parks in Greece are not solely about tourism; they also serve as vital homes for more than 300 fish species, dolphins, sea turtles, and endangered monk seals, making them important destinations for those interested in environmental science and climate-change studies.
- In line with these conservation efforts, Greece has pledged to increase the proportion of its territorial waters designated as marine protected areas to 30% by 2030.
- Furthermore, sustainable living, home-and-garden enthusiasts may find inspiration in the eco-friendly practices adopted by the local community in Alonissos, striving to minimize their impact on the environment and preserve the pristine scenery for future generations of tourists and locals alike.
